Word

生 (shēng) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

Meaning of 生

动 dòng verb

to be born; to give birth

她生了一个儿子。

tā shēng le yí gè ér zi

She gave birth to a son.

形 xíng adjective

raw, uncooked

我不喜欢吃生鱼。

wǒ bù xǐ huan chī shēng yú

I don't like to eat raw fish.

副 fù adverb

forcibly

她生拉硬拽把我带走了。

tā shēng lā yìng zhuài bǎ wǒ dài zǒu le

She forcibly dragged me away.

Word breakdown

生 shēng — to be born; to give birth

1 中学生 zhōng xué shēng — middle school student HSK 1
- 中 middle (level of education)
- 学 school
- 生 student
Example

这个中学生学习很努力。

zhè ge zhōng xué shēng xué xí hěn nǔ lì

This middle school student studies very hard.
2 先生 xiān sheng — Mr. HSK 1
- 先 first, before
- 生 born, person
Example

王先生是我的老师。

wáng xiān sheng shì wǒ de lǎo shī

Mr. Wang is my teacher.
3 医生 yī shēng — doctor HSK 1
- 医 medical, medicine
- 生 person, practitioner
Example

我的姐姐是一位医生。

wǒ de jiě jie shì yī wèi yī shēng

My older sister is a doctor.
4 大学生 dà xué shēng — college student HSK 1
- 大 big, great (as part of 'university')
- 学 study, learning (as part of 'university')
- 生 student, person who studies
Example

他是一名大学生。

tā shì yī míng dà xué shēng

He is a college student.
5 学生 xué shēng — student HSK 1
- 学 to study, learning
- 生 person, one who
Example

我是一个学生

wǒ shì yí gè xué shēng

I am a student

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6 小学生 xiǎo xué shēng — elementary school student HSK 1
- 小 small, young (indicating elementary/primary level)
- 学 school, study (refers to the educational institution)
- 生 student, pupil (the person who studies)
Example

小学生应该早点睡觉。

xiǎo xué shēng yīng gāi zǎo diǎn shuì jiào

Elementary school students should go to bed early.
7 生病 shēng bìng — to get sick HSK 1
- 生 to develop, to generate
- 病 illness, sickness
Example

他昨天生病了。

tā zuó tiān shēng bìng le

He got sick yesterday.
8 生日 shēng rì — birthday HSK 2
- 生 birth; to be born
- 日 day
Example

今天是我的生日。

jīn tiān shì wǒ de shēng rì

Today is my birthday.
9 出生 chū shēng — to be born HSK 3
- 出 to come out, to emerge
- 生 life, to live
Example

我出生在北京。

wǒ chū shēng zài běi jīng

I was born in Beijing.
10 卫生间 wèi shēng jiān — bathroom HSK 3
- 卫 hygiene, sanitation
- 生 hygiene, sanitation (part of 卫生)
- 间 room
Example

卫生间在哪里?

wèi shēng jiān zài nǎ lǐ

Where is the bathroom?
11 发生 fā shēng — to happen HSK 3
- 发 to initiate, to emit
- 生 to arise, to come into being
Example

这里发生了什么事？

zhè lǐ fā shēng le shén me shì

What happened here?
12 女生 nǚ shēng — female student; girl HSK 3
- 女 female; woman
- 生 student; pupil
Example

这位女生很聪明。

zhè wèi nǚ shēng hěn cōng míng

This girl is very smart.
13 生气 shēng qì — to be angry HSK 3
- 生 to generate, to produce (the arising of emotion)
- 气 anger, temper (negative emotional energy)
Example

别生气，我跟你道歉。

bié shēng qì wǒ gēn nǐ dào qiàn

Don't be angry, I apologize to you.
14 生活 shēng huó — life HSK 3
- 生 life, living
- 活 to live, alive
Example

我喜欢这里的生活。

wǒ xǐ huan zhè lǐ de shēng huó

I like the life here.
15 男生 nán shēng — boy HSK 3
- 男 male
- 生 student
Example

那个男生是我的同学。

nà ge nán shēng shì wǒ de tóng xué

That boy is my classmate.
16 留学生 liú xué shēng — international student HSK 3
- 留 to stay, to remain (abroad)
- 学 to study, learning
- 生 student, person
Example

他是从美国来的留学生。

tā shì cóng měi guó lái de liú xué shēng

He is an international student from America.
17 一生 yì shēng — lifetime HSK 4
- 一 one
- 生 life
Example

一生很短暂，要珍惜每一天。

yì shēng hěn duǎn zàn yào zhēn xī měi yī tiān

A lifetime is very short, cherish every day.
18 产生 chǎn shēng — to produce; to generate; to arise HSK 4
- 产 to produce; to yield; to bring forth
- 生 to come into being; to arise; to emerge
Example

他们之间产生了误会。

tā men zhī jiān chǎn shēng le wù huì

A misunderstanding arose between them.
19 人生 rén shēng — life HSK 4
- 人 person, human
- 生 life, living
Example

人生就像一场旅行。

rén shēng jiù xiàng yī chǎng lǚ xíng

Life is like a journey.
20 卫生 wèi shēng — hygienic HSK 4
- 卫 guard, protect
- 生 life, health
Example

这里的环境不太卫生。

zhè lǐ de huán jìng bù tài wèi shēng

The environment here is not very hygienic.
21 师生 shī shēng — teachers and students HSK 4
- 师 teacher
- 生 student
Example

这所学校的师生都很友好。

zhè suǒ xué xiào de shī shēng dōu hěn yǒu hǎo

The teachers and students at this school are all very friendly.
22 毕业生 bì yè shēng — graduate HSK 4
- 毕 complete, finish
- 业 studies, academic program
- 生 person, student
Example

今年我们学校有500名毕业生。

jīn nián wǒ men xué xiào yǒu wǔ bǎi míng bì yè shēng

This year our school has 500 graduates.
23 生命 shēng mìng — life HSK 4
- 生 living, birth, alive
- 命 life force, fate, destiny
Example

生命很宝贵，我们要珍惜它。

shēng mìng hěn bǎo guì wǒ men yào zhēn xī tā

Life is precious, we should cherish it.
24 生意 shēng yi — business HSK 4
- 生 livelihood
- 意 matter (forms compound)
Example

他的生意做得很好。

tā de shēng yi zuò de hěn hǎo

His business is doing very well.
25 研究生 yán jiū shēng — graduate student HSK 4
- 研 research, study
- 究 investigate, examine
- 生 student
Example

他是北京大学的研究生。

tā shì Běi jīng Dà xué de yán jiū shēng

He is a graduate student at Peking University.
26 考生 kǎo shēng — examinee HSK 4
- 考 exam, test, examination
- 生 person, student (person who takes exam)
Example

所有考生必须提前三十分钟到达考场。

suǒ yǒu kǎo shēng bì xū tí qián sān shí fēn zhōng dào dá kǎo chǎng

All examinees must arrive at the examination venue thirty minutes early.
27 生产 shēng chǎn — to produce HSK 5
- 生 to give birth to, to bring into being
- 产 to yield, to produce output
Example

这家工厂生产汽车。

zhè jiā gōng chǎng shēng chǎn qì chē

This factory produces cars.
28 生动 shēng dòng — vivid HSK 5
- 生 life, living, vitality
- 动 movement, motion, activity
Example

老师讲课很生动。

lǎo shī jiǎng kè hěn shēng dòng

The teacher's lecture is very vivid.
29 生存 shēng cún — to survive HSK 5
- 生 life, living
- 存 to exist, to remain
Example

人类需要水和食物才能生存。

rén lèi xū yào shuǐ hé shí wù cái néng shēng cún

Humans need water and food to survive.
30 生物 shēng wù — organism HSK 5
- 生 living, life
- 物 thing, entity
Example

海洋里有很多种生物。

hǎi yáng lǐ yǒu hěn duō zhǒng shēng wù

There are many kinds of organisms in the ocean.
31 生肖 shēng xiào — Chinese zodiac HSK 5
- 生 birth, referring to the year of birth
- 肖 resemble, the zodiac animal that represents the birth year
Example

你的生肖是什么？

nǐ de shēng xiào shì shén me

What is your Chinese zodiac sign?
32 生长 shēng zhǎng — to grow HSK 5
- 生 life, living, birth
- 长 to grow, to increase
Example

植物需要阳光和水才能生长。

zhí wù xū yào yáng guāng hé shuǐ cái néng shēng zhǎng

Plants need sunlight and water to grow.
33 陌生 mò shēng — unfamiliar HSK 5
- 陌 strange, unfamiliar
- 生 raw, not yet familiar
Example

我对这个城市很陌生。

wǒ duì zhè ge chéng shì hěn mò shēng

I'm very unfamiliar with this city.
34 再生 zài shēng — to regenerate HSK 6
- 再 again, re- (prefix indicating repetition)
- 生 to be born, to grow, to generate
Example

这种植物具有很强的再生能力。

zhè zhǒng zhí wù jù yǒu hěn qiáng de zài shēng néng lì

This plant has strong regenerative ability.
35 招生 zhāo shēng — recruit students HSK 6
- 招 to recruit, to enlist
- 生 students
Example

这所大学今年招生两千人。

zhè suǒ dà xué jīn nián zhāo shēng liǎng qiān rén

This university is recruiting two thousand students this year.
36 生命力 shēng mìng lì — vitality HSK 6
- 生 life, living
- 命 life, existence
- 力 power, force, strength
Example

这棵老树依然充满生命力。

zhè kē lǎo shù yī rán chōng mǎn shēng mìng lì

This old tree is still full of vitality.
37 生态 shēng tài — ecology HSK 6
- 生 life, living
- 态 state, condition, form
Example

保护生态环境是我们的责任。

bǎo hù shēng tài huán jìng shì wǒ men de zé rèn

Protecting the ecological environment is our responsibility.
38 生成 shēng chéng — to generate HSK 6
- 生 to produce, to bring forth
- 成 to form, to become complete
Example

这个程序可以自动生成报告。

zhè ge chéng xù kě yǐ zì dòng shēng chéng bào gào

This program can automatically generate reports.
39 维生素 wéi shēng sù — vitamin HSK 6
- 维 maintain, preserve
- 生 life, living
- 素 element, substance
Example

水果和蔬菜富含维生素。

shuǐ guǒ hé shū cài fù hán wéi shēng sù

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins.
40 花生 huā shēng — peanut HSK 6
- 花 flower (referring to the plant's flowering stage)
- 生 grows/produces (how the nut develops from the flower)
Example

我喜欢吃花生。

wǒ xǐ huan chī huā shēng

I like to eat peanuts.
41 诞生 dàn shēng — to be born HSK 6
- 诞 birth (formal, significant)
- 生 to be born, to come into existence
Example

中华人民共和国诞生于1949年。

Zhōng huá Rén mín Gòng hé guó dàn shēng yú yī jiǔ sì jiǔ nián

The People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.
42 野生 yě shēng — wild HSK 6
- 野 wild, untamed, in nature
- 生 living, growing, life
Example

这些野生动物需要保护。

zhè xiē yě shēng dòng wù xū yào bǎo hù

These wild animals need protection.
43 丧生 sàng shēng — to lose one's life HSK 7
- 丧 to lose, to forfeit
- 生 life
Example

三名登山者在雪崩中丧生。

sān míng dēng shān zhě zài xuě bēng zhōng sàng shēng

Three mountaineers lost their lives in an avalanche.
44 亲生 qīn shēng — biological HSK 7
- 亲 related by blood, close family relation
- 生 give birth to, born
Example

她找到了自己的亲生母亲。

tā zhǎo dào le zì jǐ de qīn shēng mǔ qīn

She found her biological mother.
45 养生 yǎng shēng — health preservation HSK 7
- 养 nourish, cultivate, maintain
- 生 life, vitality
Example

我爷爷很注重养生，身体一直很好。

wǒ yé ye hěn zhù zhòng yǎng shēng shēn tǐ yì zhí hěn hǎo

My grandfather pays great attention to health preservation, and his health has always been good.
46 土生土长 tǔ shēng tǔ zhǎng — native-born and bred HSK 7
- 土 local, native (lit. earth/soil)
- 生 born, to give birth
- 土 local, native (repeated for emphasis)
- 长 raised, grew up
Example

他是土生土长的北京人。

tā shì tǔ shēng tǔ zhǎng de Běi jīng rén

He is a native-born and bred Beijinger.
47 天生 tiān shēng — innate HSK 7
- 天 heaven/nature (suggesting something from nature)
- 生 born/birth (indicating something present from birth)
Example

他有天生的音乐才能。

tā yǒu tiān shēng de yīn yuè cái néng

He has innate musical talent.
48 孪生 luán shēng — twin HSK 7
- 孪 twin, paired
- 生 born, birth
Example

他们是孪生兄弟。

tā men shì luán shēng xiōng dì

They are twin brothers.
49 微生物 wēi shēng wù — microorganism HSK 7
- 微 tiny, minute, micro-
- 生 life, living
- 物 thing, organism, matter
Example

科学家正在研究海洋中的微生物。

kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū hǎi yáng zhōng de wēi shēng wù

Scientists are studying microorganisms in the ocean.
50 急中生智 jí zhōng shēng zhì — to suddenly think of a way out in an emergency HSK 7
- 急 urgent, emergency situation
- 中 in the midst of, amid
- 生 to produce, to generate, to arise
- 智 wisdom, intelligence, clever idea
Example

遇到危险时，他急中生智，找到了逃生的办法。

yù dào wēi xiǎn shí tā jí zhōng shēng zhì zhǎo dào le táo shēng de bàn fǎ

When he encountered danger, he suddenly thought of a way out and found a method to escape.
51 抗生素 kàng shēng sù — antibiotic HSK 7
- 抗 resist, fight against, anti-
- 生 life, living organisms
- 素 substance, element, compound
Example

医生给我开了抗生素。

yī shēng gěi wǒ kāi le kàng shēng sù

The doctor prescribed antibiotics for me.
52 新生 xīn shēng — newborn HSK 7
- 新 new, fresh, recent
- 生 student (short for 学生)
Example

这是一个新生的国家。

zhè shì yí ge xīn shēng de guó jiā

This is a newborn nation.
53 毕生 bì shēng — lifetime HSK 7
- 毕 complete, entire
- 生 life, lifetime
Example

他毕生致力于科学研究。

tā bì shēng zhì lì yú kē xué yán jiū

He devoted his lifetime to scientific research.
54 民生 mín shēng — people's livelihood HSK 7
- 民 people, citizens
- 生 livelihood, living conditions
Example

政府应该关注民生问题。

zhèng fǔ yīng gāi guān zhù mín shēng wèn tí

The government should pay attention to livelihood issues.
55 滋生 zī shēng — to breed; to give rise to HSK 7
- 滋 to nourish; to multiply
- 生 to grow; to produce
Example

潮湿的环境容易滋生细菌。

cháo shī de huán jìng róng yì zī shēng xì jūn

Damp environments easily breed bacteria.
56 生产线 shēng chǎn xiàn — production line HSK 7
- 生 produce, generate
- 产 produce, yield
- 线 line (assembly line)
Example

这家工厂有五条生产线。

zhè jiā gōng chǎng yǒu wǔ tiáo shēng chǎn xiàn

This factory has five production lines.
57 生前 shēng qián — during one's lifetime HSK 7
- 生 life, living
- 前 before, prior to
Example

她生前是一位著名的作家。

tā shēng qián shì yī wèi zhù míng de zuò jiā

She was a famous writer during her lifetime.
58 生命线 shēng mìng xiàn — lifeline HSK 7
- 生 life, living
- 命 life, fate
- 线 line, thread
Example

供水系统是城市的生命线。

gōng shuǐ xì tǒng shì chéng shì de shēng mìng xiàn

The water supply system is the lifeline of the city.
59 生平 shēng píng — life story; biography; one's life HSK 7
- 生 life; living
- 平 entire span; throughout (one's life)
Example

这本书详细记载了她的生平。

zhè běn shū xiáng xì jì zǎi le tā de shēng píng

This book records her life story in detail.
60 生怕 shēng pà — for fear that; to be afraid that HSK 7
- 生 to give rise to; to produce (intensifies the fear)
- 怕 to fear; to be afraid
Example

她小声说话，生怕吵醒孩子。

tā xiǎo shēng shuō huà shēng pà chǎo xǐng hái zi

She speaks softly, for fear of waking the child.
61 生效 shēng xiào — to take effect HSK 7
- 生 to generate, to bring into being
- 效 effect, efficacy, force
Example

新法律明天生效。

xīn fǎ lǜ míng tiān shēng xiào

The new law takes effect tomorrow.
62 生机 shēng jī — vitality HSK 7
- 生 life, living
- 机 energy, potential
Example

春天来了，大地充满了生机。

chūn tiān lái le dà dì chōng mǎn le shēng jī

Spring has arrived, and the earth is full of vitality.
63 生死 shēng sǐ — life and death HSK 7
- 生 life, living
- 死 death, dying
Example

这是生死攸关的问题。

zhè shì shēng sǐ yōu guān de wèn tí

This is a matter of life and death.
64 生涯 shēng yá — career HSK 7
- 生 life
- 涯 span, course
Example

他的篮球生涯非常辉煌。

tā de lán qiú shēng yá fēi cháng huī huáng

His basketball career was very brilliant.
65 生理 shēng lǐ — physiology HSK 7
- 生 life, living
- 理 principles, mechanisms
Example

这是正常的生理现象。

zhè shì zhèng cháng de shēng lǐ xiàn xiàng

This is a normal physiological phenomenon.
66 生疏 shēng shū — unfamiliar; rusty; out of practice HSK 7
- 生 unfamiliar; strange; not well-practiced
- 疏 distant; alienated; not close
Example

我很久没说英语了，感觉有点生疏。

wǒ hěn jiǔ méi shuō yīng yǔ le gǎn jué yǒu diǎn shēng shū

I haven't spoken English for a long time, feeling a bit rusty.
67 生硬 shēng yìng — stiff, awkward, unnatural HSK 7
- 生 raw, unrefined, lacking practice
- 硬 stiff, rigid, inflexible
Example

他的中文说得很生硬。

tā de zhōng wén shuō de hěn shēng yìng

His Chinese sounds very stiff.
68 生育 shēng yù — to give birth HSK 7
- 生 to give birth, to bear
- 育 to raise, to nurture
Example

她去年生育了一个健康的女儿。

tā qù nián shēng yù le yí gè jiàn kāng de nǚ ér

She gave birth to a healthy daughter last year.
69 终生 zhōng shēng — lifelong HSK 7
- 终 throughout, entire (from beginning to end)
- 生 life, lifetime
Example

学习是一个终生的过程。

xué xí shì yí gè zhōng shēng de guò chéng

Learning is a lifelong process.
70 自力更生 zì lì gēng shēng — self-reliance HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 力 strength, power, force
- 更 renew, regenerate, again
- 生 life, livelihood, living
Example

农民们通过自力更生摆脱了贫困。

nóng mín men tōng guò zì lì gēng shēng bǎi tuō le pín kùn

The farmers escaped poverty through self-reliance.
71 衍生 yǎn shēng — to derive, to evolve, to spawn HSK 7
- 衍 to extend, to spread, to develop from
- 生 to produce, to generate, to give rise to
Example

许多新词汇从网络文化中衍生。

xǔ duō xīn cí huì cóng wǎng luò wén huà zhōng yǎn shēng

Many new words derive from internet culture.
72 谋生 móu shēng — to make a living HSK 7
- 谋 to seek, to plan
- 生 living, livelihood
Example

她靠卖水果谋生。

tā kào mài shuǐ guǒ móu shēng

She makes a living by selling fruit.
73 逃生 táo shēng — to escape, to flee for one's life HSK 7
- 逃 to flee, to escape
- 生 life, survival
Example

火灾发生时，他们从窗户逃生。

huǒ zài fā shēng shí tā men cóng chuāng hu táo shēng

When the fire broke out, they escaped through the window.